To ask how often you doubt your parenting?

[ethelfleda]

I have a 9 month old son so I know I have many more trying times ahead and that raising a teenager will be completely different but...

I worry all the time that I'm not doing enough for him. I'm still on mat leave at the moment and some days I don't find much time to play with him (in between feeding him, cleaning him, getting him to sleep etc) I feel bad if I bring him out of the house with me so I can meet a friend for coffee because that means my focus isn't 100% on him - but then I feel bad if I don't take him out because maybe he needs the stimulation. I feel bad if he is crying to be picked up and I can't do it right away. I feel as though it's my fault if he hasn't had enough sleep during the day... etc etc is it normal to doubt myself this much over every little thing??

I think most of all, I'm worried that I won't be a good enough mum to him as he is growing up and worry that any mistakes I make will have a lasting and negative impact!

I kind of balance it out in my head. Have a 4 month old DD and feel a little bad that instead of going to baby groups I'm going for coffee but honestly she's a perfectly happy little girl hitting all her milestones, I have mum friends etc I just don't care for the hoohah. Like baby massage, surely I'm the one who deserves a massage? I still feel a little mum guilt but I think if I didn't have 'me time' I would be a lot crankier and unable to cope as well. So by doing something for me and not her I'm able to better look after/play with her the rest of the day.

Every minute.